The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reviewed its decision to hold its 2025 annual general conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital because of the state of emergency declared by the President in the state.
A statement issued by the association after a virtual meeting called to discuss the hosting of the conference, said, “The NBA at its virtual Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, March 27 resolved to allow the National Executive Committee to Conduct further Consultations regarding the 2025 Annual General Conference scheduled to take place in Rivers State and report to NEC.
“NEC members during the meeting unanimously approved and ratified the position of the NBA President’s statement regarding the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and the Suspension of Government Officials in Rivers State by his Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“A key issue deliberated upon during the meeting was the venue of the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference (AGC), originally scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“After extensive discussions, NEC members considered two motions: A motion to immediately relocate the 2025 AGC from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and another motion to allow the NBA National Executive Committee and the AGC Planning Committee to conduct further investigations, consult stakeholders, and make a final decision, which would be reported back to NEC.
“The voting process conducted by the General Secretary of the NBA, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara revealed that 69 NEC members voted in favor of allowing the NBA National Executive and AGC Planning Committee to investigate and take a decision, while 65 members voted in favor of immediately relocating the conference from Rivers State.”
The NBA general conference is one of the many losses that the state has suffered since March 18, 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared the state of emergency and suspended the governor, the house of assembly and all democratic officers and appointed a sole administrator to run the affairs of the state.
The Supreme Court had earlier dissolved the democratically elected local governments and sent the chairmen and councillors home, leaving the local governments in the hands of civil servants.
